A HALF-naked man was fixing his prosthetic legs after a car crash when his rifle misfired, scaring the good Samaritans who came to help him.

Kuranda man Michael Lloyd Roberts, 36, pleaded guilty in Cairns District Court yesterday to charges including unlawful wounding, discharging a weapon in a public place and carrying a loaded weapon in a public place.

Crown prosecutor Danielle Palmer told the court the passers-by came to Roberts' aid after he rolled his ute near Kuranda on September 21, last year.

"The defendant was naked at that time except for a shirt," she said.

"He had the barrel of a gun in his hand, with the butt on the ground."

He told his rescuers he was OK, but as they walked away they heard the first of four shots.

Police were called and they found Roberts trying to hide in bushland.

The Kuranda man was wanted for stabbing a man at Edmonton the night before after a drunken dispute over a woman.

The victim was in hospital for two days with a 6cm stab wound to his right side.

Police also found a semi-automatic rifle at Roberts' Kuranda home, along with more than 2500 rounds of ammunition.

Defence barrister Barry Murray said the man did shoot at the passers-by.

"It's not as bad as it sounds," he said.

"He never threatened anyone with the weapon, he wasn't firing it at anyone."

He said Roberts, who lost his legs at the age of 22 in a motorcycle crash, was embarrassed to be caught with his pants down and the gun went off accidentally at first as he struggled with the situation.

"He'd taken off his pants to try and sort out the legs when the witnesses turned up," he said.

"He says he's had more shots attributed to him than he fired."

Judge Bill Everson sentenced Roberts to three years jail, to be released on December 21 this year, taking into account the 10 months he had already served.

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